Time has finally caught up with some familiar Apple favorites.
Apple has updated its support lists, and the iPhone 11 Pro and Apple Watch Series 5 have now crossed into “vintage” territory. This milestone signals the slow winding down of long-term hardware support.
According to Apple’s latest update to its list of vintage and obsolete products, the iPhone 11 Pro and the entire Apple Watch Series 5 lineup are now considered vintage worldwide. The change reflects the passage of time rather than any sudden loss of functionality, but it does reshape what owners can expect going forward.
Apple defines vintage products as devices that were no longer sold more than five years ago but less than seven years ago. These products sit in a middle ground: still usable, still supported to a degree, but edging closer to the end of official repair coverage.
The iPhone 11 Pro is a notable addition to the vintage list because it still holds an important place in Apple’s lineup history. Released in 2019, it was Apple’s first iPhone to carry the “Pro” name and introduced the triple-camera system that later became standard across Pro models.
Despite its new vintage status, the iPhone 11 Pro continues to receive software updates and remains fully functional for daily use. Apple’s vintage classification does not affect iOS updates, iCloud access, or device activation.
Apple Watch Series 5 joins the list
The update also covers every version of the Apple Watch Series 5, including aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, ceramic, Nike, and Hermès editions. Released in 2019, the Series 5 introduced the always-on display, a feature that still defines modern Apple Watches.
Like the iPhone 11 Pro, Series 5 owners can still request repairs through Apple or authorized service providers, provided parts are available.
Other devices added to the list
Alongside the iPhone 11 Pro and Apple Watch Series 5, Apple has updated the vintage status of several other products, including:
- The 13-inch MacBook Air (2020) with Intel processors
- iPad Air 3 (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
- iPhone 8 Plus (128GB variant)
These updates reflect Apple’s standard product lifecycle rather than any sudden policy shift.
The road to ‘obsolete’
Once a device passes the seven-year mark, Apple moves it to the “Obsolete” list. At that point, the support is officially over. According to Apple Support, “products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago,” and the company “discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products, and service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products.”
If you are still holding on to an iPhone 11 Pro or a Series 5 Watch and it needs a new battery or a screen replacement, now is probably the time to head to the Apple Store while parts are still available.
Also read: Apple’s reported plan to spread iPhone launches across the year could reshape how upgrades roll out.
